Gluten-free Weight Loss Programs

There are many reasons for removing gluten from your diet, including diagnoses of gluten intolerance, wheat allergy and celiac disease -- or perhaps you have discovered that you simply feel better when you avoid this common ingredient. Most diet plans that call for gluten avoidance cite health benefits rather than making weight loss promises. Dee Sandquist, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association points out that when gluten is removed, you may simply be eating a healthier diet with fewer calories, thereby losing weight.

Body Ecology Diet

The Body Ecology Diet was designed to restore gut health by reducing unhealthy levels of fungus, which creator Donna Gates says can cause a host of chronic illnesses. Weight loss, according to proponents, is a natural result of following the diet. The only grains allowed on the diet are amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa and millet, all of which are gluten-free. The diet also incorporates cultured foods such as kefir, vegetables, a few fruits and soaked and sprouted almonds.Meat and eggs are also included in moderation. Several food-combining rules are emphasized, including eating fruit alone on an empty stomach and, if you are eating protein, grains or starchy vegetables, pairing it with non-starchy vegetables. According to Gates, processed and gluten-containing grains have been stripped of beneficial fiber, damage your digestive system and feed the microbes in your gut that contribute to weight gain. She says, "With their sticky, glue-like consistency, they literally 'gum up' your intestines."

UltraMetabolism

This diet was created by Dr. Mark Hyman, a medical doctor who practices integrative medicine. The UltraMetabolism Diet is designed to be followed for a full eight weeks, and promises to help you lose weight based on your individual genetic needs. Only gluten-free grains are included in the first three weeks of the program, but gluten can be re-introduced in later phases of the diet if you wish to. Hyman reasons that gluten serves as a cause of inflammation for many and is also a common allergen. Other foods avoided in the detoxification phase of the program include sweeteners, processed foods, alcohol and caffeine. In addition, Hyman recommends including protein at breakfast, eating multiple smaller meals throughout the day rather than the traditional three, avoiding food several hours before bedtime and controlling the glycemic load of your meals.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet, or SCD, was created by the late Canadian biochemist Elaine Gottschall as a remedy for those with digestive illnesses, as well other illnesses caused or exacerbated by high levels of detrimental bacteria and fungus in the intestinal tract. The SCD not only calls for the removal of gluten, but of all grains. Nut "flours" made by finely grinding nuts such as almonds, Brazil nuts and pecans are used to create substitutions for grain-based foods. The goal is to consume only foods that are exceptionally well absorbed and do not encourage microbial overgrowth. According to Gottschall, when the harmful microbes are deprived of food, they die off, restoring populations of more beneficial flora. This diet is not touted for weight loss, but due to the restrictive nature of the diet, many adherents do indeed shed excess pounds.